Process of effecting oxidation of copper.



g G.,MARTIN..

I PROCESS OF EFFECTING OXIDATION OF COPPER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.-17, 1914.

1,164,838, Patented Dec. 21, 1 915.

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STEPHEN G. MARTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0WILLIAM 0. BARTHOLOMEW, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AND ONE-THIRD TO EDWARDSCHAAF, OF

ST. MARYS, MISSOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PROCESS OF EFFECTING OXIDATION OF COPPER.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filed April 17, 1914. Serial No. 832,665.

-vented certain. new and useful Improvements in Processes of EffectingOxidation of Copper, of which the following is a specificationcontaining a full, clear, and exact description, refe'rencebeing had tothe ac- .com an in drawin s formin a part hereof.-

My invention relates to a new and useful process of eflecting oxidationof coppel by which method I am enabled to obtain o Xid of copper by aprocess of solution, reaction,

heat pressure vaporizing and precipitation.

"In carrying out my process'I employ a solution of copper, preferablyin'the form of its sulfate, potassium hydroxid, nitrate of potash,ordinary atmospheric air, and steam.v

In other words, I take a solution of copper sulfate to which has beenadded caustic potash, and nitrate of potash, dose this solution withordinary atmospheric air and subject the dosed solution to a directimpact action of steam, in the manner shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

In order to describe more clearly my improved process, reference is hadto the accompanying drawings, wherein the figure represents 1n diagraman apparatus capable of carrying out my process.

-Referring to the drawing, 1. indicates a supply tank adapted to.contain the solution hereinbefore described.

2 indicates a tank into which the solution from tank 1 is passed throughpipe 3, in which is located a valve 4 for controllingthe passage ofsolution from tank 1 to tank 2. Located in the tank 2 is a steam coil 5,and a safety valve 6. One end of coil 5 may be attached to any suitablesource of steam supply, and the opposite end 7 is the exhaust end of thecoil. The steam coil 5 is for heating the solution hereinbeforedescribed.

Ordinary atmospheric alr is driven by force pump 8 through pipe 9 intotank 2.

13 indicates a vaporizing tank, in which the perforated head 12 islocated. This tank is of sufficient strength to stand a high degree ofpressure, and is suitably lined so as not to be affected by thesolution.

Secured to one side of the tank 13 is a pipe 14, said pipe 14 beingadapted to be seunder pressure, and controlled by a valve 15. Secured tothe tank 13 is a pipe 16, one end of which terminates in a condensingchamber 17 provided with a safety valve 18. At tached to the tank 17 isa pipe 19, one end 0 which terminates in a force filter 20.

The operation of my process is as follows: The solution of copper ashereinbefore described is placed in the tank 1, and this solution isconveyed to the tank 2 and is therein heated to any suitable degree oftemperature. While said solution is being heated it is heavily chargedor dosed with ordinary atmospheric air through the pipe 9. Theaircharged solution is then passed into the pressure tank 13, and if thesame does not flow rapidly enough into said tank I may employ a pump 21to increase the flow. The air-charged solution passes through theperforated head 12 in the form of small jets or sprays, and as it isemitted from said head, steam is admitted into said tank 13 through thepipe 14 under pressure, when decomposition of the copper sulfate intocopper oxid is completed according to the following reaction:

The products of said reaction together with the vaporized water of thesolution are forced over through pipe 16 into the condensing tank 17,and on from the tank 17 through the pipe l9'into the force filter 20, inwhich filter the'copper oxid is secured, by deposit, and the filtrate isdischarged through a pipe leading from the filter.

' While I have. shown one form of apparatus by mean. of which my processmay be carried out various other forms of apparatus may be designed forcarrying out said process.

The essential features of my process are in the employment ofaa solutioncontaining 105 cured to any suitable source of steam supply per otherthan the sulfate of my preferred solution. However, for purposes ofgeneral economy and expediency, I prefer to make use of the solutionfirst described in this appllcation.

The pump 21 may be used for forcing the solution from the tank 2 intothe vaporizing chamber 13, the back pressure being controlled by meansof a check valve 22, and the passage of the solution to the pump beingcontrolled by means of a valve 23.

I claim: 1. The herein described process of'efi'ect- -ing oxidation ofcopper, which consists in taking a solution containing a salt of copper,

' hydroxid of otassium and nitrate of potassium, heating said solutionand charging the 25 heated solution with atmospheric air.

2. The herein described process of efiecting oxidation of copper, whichconsists in pheric air, and subjecting the charged solution to theaction of steam under pressure.

p 3. The herein described process of ell'ecting oxidation of copper,which consists in taklng a heated solution of a salt of copper,'hydroxid of potassium and nitrate'of potassium, charging said solutionwith ordinary atmospheric a1r and subjecting the charged solutionto theaction by direct impact, of steam under pressure.

In testimony whereof, have signed my name to this specification, inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN G. MARTIN.

Witnesses: V J. GUTHRIDGE, O. C. BOWERS.

